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Whistle-blowers heats up Nigeria's anti-corruption fight

Xinhua, April 13, 2017 Adjust font size:

The fight against corruption is gaining momentum in Nigeria as active whistleblowers in recent days exposed slush funds and accounts to the authorities, especially the nation's anti-graft police.

President Muhammadu Buhari's administration has recently decided to fight corruption through the whistle-blowing policy as a new approach.

This would allow citizens who report corruption-related offenses via a secure online portal earn a cut from the recovered loot.

The whistle-blowing policy would provide government agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with actionable tips to track and recover stolen government funds.

Offenses that can be reported include mismanagement of public funds and assets, violation of financial regulations, solicitation of bribes, and manipulating data and records.

When tips lead to the successful recovery of ill-gotten funds, whistle-blowers are entitled to between 2.5-5 percent of amount recovered.

The Nigerian government also promised whistle-blowers that "confidentiality will be maintained to the fullest extent possible within the limitations of the law."

So far, the whistle-blowing policy appears to be working in Nigeria.

On Wednesday, the country's anti-graft police busted a home where it recovered at least 38 million U.S. dollars 23 million Naira and another 27,000 pounds in Lagos state.

On Tuesday, a tip-off by a whistle blower led to the discovery of 4 billion naira kept in two separate accounts at the Gurantee Trust Bank (GTB) Plc, suspected to be proceeds of crime.

Local media reported that the money belongs to a former deputy governorship candidate in central-north Niger State.

The suspected owner of the account and the account officer are currently on the run.

In another similar case, a whistleblower on Monday led EFCC operatives to intercept a cash haul in various currencies at the popular Balogun Market in Lagos.

The money include 547,730 pounds and 21,090 euros as well as 5,648,500 niara.

Last week, it was also a whistleblower that led the EFCC operatives to a huge cash kept in bags at a Bureau de Change in LEGICO Plaza in Victoria Island in Lagos.

Operatives found 448.85 million naira inside Shop 64, when it was forced open.

In February, EFCC retrieved 9.8 million dollars from Andrew Yakubu, former group managing director of Nigeria's state oil company following a tip off.

Commenting on the loot, Lai Mohammed, Nigeria's minister of information, said the whistle-blowing policy has led to the recovery of over 180 million dollars from various corrupt individuals as at February. Endit